CHAPTER 10

Two weeks later, Diana was just grateful that the weekend was here. It had been a tense past few weeks between her and Harry, and they had barely spoken. She thanked her lucky stars that they weren't on missions in the last few weeks and she could easily partner with someone else in their training sessions. She could tell that Harry was avoiding her at all costs - even going as far as missing a few days of work due to an unspecified ailment he was apparently suffering from.

Yeah, she knew it was a load of shit, but she didn't mind the break from his seething and moping around the office for a day or two.

To be honest, Diana hadn't expected much different of a reaction from him. She knew that it wouldn't go well, but she couldn't help but feel angry with him. It was her life, at the end of the day, and he didn't get a say. It made her blood boil when she thought of how controlling and jealous he had been. She wondered how long it'd take for him to cool off. They did have to work together, after all.

Diana thought back to their school days - how she and Draco had kept their friendship a secret. She always knew it wouldn't be a good idea and the thought of them being anything more than friends wasn't even a possibility. They both knew nothing could ever happen back then...

May 1995...

"Are you headed home for the summer?" Draco asked, quietly. He glanced over at Diana, unsure of why he couldn't get enough of her. He liked being friends with her and ever since the night of the Yule Ball he felt even closer.

Diana nodded slowly, keeping up with Draco's pace as they walked,"Yes, how about you? I assume you're going somewhere fancy for a holiday."

Draco smirked, "We're traveling to Japan. We'll be there for a few weeks or so."

"Wow," Diana marveled. "That's incredible. I… well, I'm just going home, you know? To see Mum and Dad. And 'course my brother will be back for a bit so that'll be nice." She glanced up at her friend, continuing their walk.

Draco nodded in response, shifting uncomfortably.

They had agreed to take a walk around the Black Lake together, knowing that the other students would be too busy packing and getting ready to leave for holiday to notice. He couldn't believe this feeling he had inside of him: he was going to miss her. It was as if the latter half of the year had been spent with her: secret study sessions, stolen glances across the Great Hall. Every moment unfilled with thoughts of school, friends, and going home were filled with her.

He thought back to the way he felt the night of the Yule Ball - the same way he was feeling right now. He was shocked and perhaps a little horrified to find that all he had wanted to do at that moment was kiss her. But he wouldn't. He couldn't. He knew that it could go nowhere.

"Crazy year, huh? I can't believe that Cedric…" Diana trailed off, sadly.

"Yeah. 'S sad..." Draco nodded in agreement. "I-, do you think maybe we could keep working together? Next year, I mean?"

Diana nodded slowly, "Yeah, sure. I-, I'd like that. I think."

"You think?" Draco smirked, raising an eyebrow, happy that she was eager to change the subject from the morbid subject of Cedric Diggory. Draco swallowed anxiously, banishing all thoughts of what had happened from his mind. Not only was it uncomfortable, but he feared what lay ahead of him at home this summer.

"Oh shut it," Diana rolled her eyes playfully. "You know what I mean."

"Do I?" Draco asked, taking a step towards her. "Because I don't think I know what you mean."

"Oh come on, Malfoy…" Diana groaned.

"What?" Draco asked again, taking another step forward towards her.

Diana rolled her eyes again, taking a step towards him in return, "What? You don't get enough ego stroking with the Slytherins?" She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step towards him in defiance.

Malfoy smirked, "I just want to hear you say it."

Diana rolled her eyes at him, "What?"

"You know."

"I don't."

"You do."

"Fine!"

Draco crossed his arms across his chest, mirroring her body language. He kicked out the ground impatiently, waiting to hear what he wanted to hear.

"Maybe… I just might… enjoy… spending time… with you," Diana managed to get out, regardless of how much she hadn't wanted to say it.

"Well, I already know that, Tsai," Malfoy teased.

"Ugh! Why do you have to be so bloody annoying, Malfoy?! Is that what you bloody wanted to hear?" Diana exclaimed, frustrated yet endeared all at the same time.

"Maybe," Draco shrugged, taking another step forward, closing the distance between the two little by little.

"Yeah and if you tell anyone, I'll deny it. Who do you think people would believe? Me, at the top of my class and beloved by all, or you, the snarky, arrogant Slytherin bully?" Diana smirked, crossing her arms across her chest, stepping towards him in playful defiance.

"Beloved by all? That's a bit of a stretch don't you think," Draco teased.

"Oh ha-ha, Malfoy. You know what I meant. We've been studying in secret for this long without anyone finding out. No one would possibly believe it!" Diana retorted.

"Would that be so bad?" Draco asked, curiously.

"What?"

"You know. People knowing. About us."

Diana laughed almost instantly, unaware of how her response would make him feel, "Yes!"

Draco was silent. He looked at his feet, shifting side to side uncomfortably, his response catching Diana off guard.

"I just mean… Draco, we talked about this," Diana started, a little confused.

"I know," he replied, continuing his concentrated glare at the floor, his cheeks beginning to redden.

"I-, I mean… we are… friends, Draco. I just… well, I didn't think you nor I wanted anyone else to know. I-, it wouldn't be a good idea… with our friends, you know?" Diana stumbled, hoping to reconcile with the boy who stood across from her.

"No, now you're right. It would be a terrible idea," Draco snapped, catching her off guard.

"Don't know what would be worse…" Draco trailed off, his tone softening. "...telling people that I'm actually friends with you or…." He wrapped his arms around Diana's waist from behind and in an instant began to charge towards the lake, eliciting a playful scream from her. "Or I could just throw you into the lake!"

"Draco, stop it!" she shrieked, laughing as she kicked against him. "Don't you dare!" But he only continued. "Put me down right now, Malfoy, or I swear I"ll-."

"Or you'll what?" Draco asked, cockily, as he set Diana down, their bodies inches apart.

Diana had no plans to back down.

"Or I swear on Merlin's beard that I'll bloody kill you. I won't even think twice," she challenged, face to face with her friend.

Draco opened his mouth to say something in response, before realizing how close they were.

Diana swallowed, almost instantly taking a few steps back.

"We should get back to the castle. Can't miss the train…" she muttered, creating distance between them.

"Yeah, yeah, we should ehm-, we can't miss the train," Draco repeated quietly. The two friends avoided eye contact as they hurried back towards the castle, listening intently to the sound of their feet moving along the grass.

Her eyes lit up as she thought of something mischievous, "Hey, Malfoy?"

"What?"

"I'll race you back!"

With that, Diana took off, sprinting through the last few legs of distance they had left to go. Draco called after her, picking up pace and chasing behind her. He would let her win. He never let anyone win.

"Hey, Tsai?" he asked, catching his breath as they stood at one of the entrances.

"Yes?" she asked, looking up at him.

Draco's lips curled into a small smile before he replied, "I'll see you after the summer."

She smiled back at him, "I'll see you after the summer, Malfoy."

"I hope you're not working too hard," a voice said, pulling Diana out of her memories.

"Huh?" she sounded, her head shooting straight up. She surveyed her desk, clumsily tidying everything up. "Athena!"

"Hi, little sis," she smirked, watching how disoriented her sister was. "Watcha got there? Must really be something to have you that focused on it."

"Oh! Nothing… I was just ehm, thinking," Diana managed to get out, trying to shake herself from her daydreams.

Athena cocked an eyebrow at her sister before taking a seat on top of the empty desk in the office, "Ahhh… about this dream man we're going to meet?"

"Ehm, sort of," Diana blushed. "Hey, that's not mine! Don't sit on it!"

Athena rolled her eyes playfully at her rule following sister.

"Where is Potter anyways?" she asked, curiously, while looking around the office.

"We ehm, we, got into a bit of a disagreement. He took a few days off. Out sick," Diana answered, vaguely.

"Disagreement? Ah… about the boyfriend, eh?" Athena questioned, curiously. She was eager to get the juicy details of her sister's more than exciting life. Diana nodded. "Jealous? I thought Harry had a thing for you anyways. Surprised me that you two never-."

"No! No we never…" Diana quickly interjected before pivoting. The last thing she wanted to talk about was her two-time affair with Harry. "It's good to see you, Athena."

"You too. I'm excited to meet this boyfriend of yours. I didn't come back from Paris just for a family visit. And I refuse to settle for anything less than the sordid, juicy, scandalous, star-crossed drama," Athena teased, playfully.

"I do not have drama!" Diana protested.

"From what you've written to me, it sounds like an episode of a muggle reality TV show," Athena shot back.

"You're still watching those?" Diana asked.

"I've been telling you for years now! You've got to get a TV. It's really something… these muggles come up with everything. You'd think maybe they did have magic," Athena chuckled, before changing the subject back to what she wanted to know. "Besides, seems like Potter's pissed about your new beau."

"It's... complicated," Diana sighed, averting her gaze.

"Oh come off it. Potter's just not used to someone else getting the girl. He'll grow up and come around one of these days," Athena rolled her eyes at the entitled boy her sister grew up with.

"Athena! It's not like that. He's married… to someone else!" Diana protested.

"Yeah, and from what you've told me it doesn't sound like it's going all that great. And like I said, I always thought he-," Athena started.

"Diana, are you-, oh hi!" a voice interjected.

Hermione poked her head into the office, surprised to see Athena at the Ministry.

"Athena! Hello."

"Well, come here, you."

Hermione giddily entered the office to give Diana's sister a hug.

"Merlin's beard, you look phenomenal," Athena complimented. "You really should let me know if you're ever in town. I'll smuggle you into the atelier. We'll have so much fun trying on gorgeous clothes."

"That sounds like a hell of a time," Hermione replied with a chuckle. "What're you doing here?"

"Meeting this one before dinner, of course. Leo and I are meeting the boyfriend before Mum and Dad," Athena replied. "Will you be joining us?"

"Ehm. I don't know," Hermione replied hesitantly. She stole a quick glance over at her best friend before returning her focus back to Athena. "I have a lot of work to get through…"

Diana's heart sank and she could feel the pit of disappointment in her stomach. She had really hoped that Hermione would come around to her new relationship, yet hearing her answer felt like they were taking three steps backward.

"Oh come on," Athena prodded.

"I'll see," Hermione answered nervously. She hadn't wanted to disappoint anyone but she wasn't so sure about meeting Malfoy either.

"Alright then. Well, we better get going!" Athena exclaimed joyfully, hoping to pick up the energy in the room. She could feel how it had changed when she brought up the dinner. "We'll take the floo network, yes, Di? And Hermione, if you can, stop by. I"m sure Leo would love to see you.

Hermione chuckled uncomfortably as Diana gathered her things. She stood up, her bag slung over her shoulder and walked around the desk towards her sister.

"See you later, Granger," Athena said, yanking her sister out of the office to follow behind her.

"I'll try my best," Hermione replied, half heartedly. Diana wasn't convinced.

"I thought she was on your side," Athena muttered, quietly, as she practically dragged her sister down the hallway.

"What did you say earlier? Complicated? Sordid? Star-crossed?" Diana pointed out.

"Uh huh. No kidding," Athena replied.

"There you guys are! Can't believe you had trusted me to be alone with this bloke. You want to scare him off, Di?" Leo teased, as Athena and Diana approached the table.

Draco and Leo were both seated across from each other, beers half gone, casually conversing.

"Ha-ha very funny, Leo. No, I don't want to scare him off!" she shot back, rolling her eyes at her brother. "I got held up at the office is all." She took a seat, sliding into the booth next to Draco, before giving him a small peck on the lips. "Hi, my love."

"Hello, darling," he said back, a grin on his face. He was smitten.

"Looks like you two have been getting on just fine without us," Athena added, gesturing towards the two beers on the table.

"Yeah, we were just getting to know each other. You know, a little man to man talk," Leo joked.

"Merlin, do you insist on being THIS embarrassing 100% of the time?" Diana groaned. "Whatever he said to you, Draco, please, disregard all of it."

Draco smiled, "No, no. Like you said. We've been getting on quite well."

Diana relaxed a little, hearing her boyfriend's words. Thank Merlin. At least someone was.

"Di, you want a drink?" Athena asked, getting up from the table. Athena nodded as her sister left to order at the counter, sure of what her sister would want.

"Leo was just telling me about what he does," Draco started.

"Oh yes. Leo, the most exciting one of us all," Diana teased her brother.

"Hey, dunno about that anymore, Di. You're the one kicking major arse at the Ministry from what I hear. What's a dragon compared to the last remaining Death Eaters out there?" Leo shot back.

"And you're still in Romania?" Draco questioned, interested to hear more about Leo.

"I was in Romania for the last five years but… just recently opened up the Hebrides preserve in Scotland. I'll be there for a bit. You two should come visit sometime," Leo answered.

"Yeah, I'd like that," Draco nodded in agreement.

"Seems like you two have warmed up to each other pretty quickly, eh?" Diana noticed, shooting a look towards both of them.

"Hey, what can I say, little sis? House loyalty, and all that stuff," Leo chuckled. "Besides, we've been dying to meet the man who captured this one's heart. Haven't seen her this happy in… oh I don't know… ever."

"Leo!" Diana exclaimed, embarrassed.

"What? Leo, you've got to stop embarrassing her like that! Can't you see she has a crush?!" Athena added, joining in on the fun. She set down the drinks in her hands on the table, sliding into the booth next to her brother.

"You guys!" Diana protested.

"It's alright," Draco said, before leaning in towards his girlfriend, causing Diana to chuckle. "I've got a bit of a crush on you too."

"Alright, love birds. Why don't we order some food? I'm starving," Athena suggested, smiling. She had never seen her sister so happy. It was about damn time.

After two weeks of dealing with her friend's not so warm reactions towards her choice in a boyfriend, it was refreshing to have her siblings welcome Draco in so easily. She could tell that Leo and Draco were getting along just fine and loved that Draco and Athena had been able to bond over their favorite Parisian cafes. Her brother and sister knew about Draco's past, but it meant so much to her that they were willing to give him a chance. Of course, they hadn't really known him in school - not the way that her friends had - but didn't he deserve a second chance?

"Sorry, yes, I-, well, I'm meeting some friends and I think they're-, oh!" Diana heard a voice say. A flustered Hermione approached the table.

"Perfect timing, Granger! We were just about to order," Athena beamed, shooting a look at her sister that said, 'I told you she'd come.'

"Well, well. If it isn't the beautiful Hermione Granger. You still with the Weasley?" Leo inquired, arrogantly.

"Engaged, actually," Hermione laughed, holding up her left hand and showing him the ring.

"Bloody hell! What're the odds of you leaving him and running away with me?" Leo replied, making Draco laugh. "Always thought you were too good for him, anyways."

"Merlin's beard, Leo," Diana groaned, well aware of his brother's crush. "Can we just order?"

"Yeah, shut it, Leo. This was your pick anyways. Let's just order before you scare the poor girl off," Athena said, ushering the whole table up to the counter.

"I quite like your brother," Draco said quietly.

"I knew you would," Diana chuckled. "Give me a second, will you?"

"'Course," Draco replied softly, following Athena and Leo to the ordering counter.

Diana hung back at the table with Hermione.

"I didn't think you would come," Diana started.

"I-, I know," Hermione said back with a sigh. "Diana, I don't like this. Him. I don't like him, but, I'm willing to give him a chance because you love him."

"Thank you, 'Mione. It means a lot to me that you came. I just-. Thank you," Diana said back.

"Anyone up for one more drink?" Diana asked, surveying the group, as they stood outside of the noodle shop. She didn't quite want the night to end - blissfully content with how the evening had gone.

"I've got to be up early for a morning shift, so I'll have to sit this one out," Draco said, reluctantly. "It was truly lovely meeting all of you."

"It's been great meeting you," Athena gushed, happily (and a little drunkenly) giving him Draco a squeeze.

"Great meeting you, mate. When I'm back in town, let's grab a drink," Leo said, offering his hand to Draco. Draco took it, shaking it.

"Yeah, definitely. Great to meet you too," Draco said back.

Leo and Athena continued to say their goodbyes, before leaving just the three of them - Draco, Hermione, and Diana alone.

"I've got to get some rest, my love. I'll see you tomorrow," Draco began. "And Hermione, it really means a lot to me that you came."

Hermione nodded curtly, with a small smile, "Me too. I-, I'm glad that I did."

"Goodnight, love," Diana said, before kissing her boyfriend.

"Goodnight."

Pop!

And with that, he was gone.

"I could be up for one more drink…" Hermione trailed off.

"Bottle of wine? My flat?" Diana suggested, mischievously.

Hermione giggled, grabbing her best friend's hand and with another popping sound, they were there.

"Will you get the wine glasses? I've got a great cab sauv on the counter," Diana called out, setting up the record player for a little music.

What had started as a meet the family dinner had turned into a bit of a girls' night and she couldn't be happier. She hadn't expected Hermione and Draco to become best friends, but the fact that she was willing to give him a chance meant the world to Diana. She knew it would take time for Hermione to trust him - horrible things had happened between the four of them during the war - but she was willing to be patient.

"I've got to say, Diana…" Hermione started, grabbing the bottle of wine and moving it to the couch. She made her way back into the kitchen area to grab the wine glasses. "I was surprised. I mean, not surprised about how he feels about you. That's clear. He's absolutely smitten with you. But, I dunno. Who knew that Draco Malfoy could even feel that way about anyone?!"

"I swear! I was just as surprised as you were," Diana chuckled, making her way to the couch to meet her friend.

"And… well… he does have some… redeeming qualities, it seems," Hermione said, choosing her words carefully.

"Listen. I don't expect you to be crazy about him but… I do think you'll come to find that he really is lovely. He's good to me. He loves me well," Diana said back.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but was quickly interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Who could that be? This late?" Hermione asked, cautiously.

"Dunno. Hold on…" Diana trailed off, springing from the couch. She carefully made her way to the door, opening it gently, shocked to see who it was.

There he was: the boy with the messy brown hair, circular glasses and lightning scar. Harry stood in the hallway of her flat, like a dog with its tail between its legs.

"May I come in?" Harry asked.

"Oh um, I-," Diana began.

"Is he here?" Harry asked again, afraid of what the answer would be. He peeked inside the apartment of Diana's shoulder.

"No! No. It's… Hermione. Hermione is in-," Diana answered.

"Don't worry. I'll make this quick," Harry said, nervously.

"Ehm… alright then," Diana said, stepping out of her flat and carefully cracking the door behind her.

"I just… I came here to say…" Harry began, hesitantly, his eyes fixed on the floor.

"Harry, you don't have to… I can put in a transfer. Get another partner! It's-," Diana stammered, tired of the thick tension between the two of them.

"No! No. It's… it's alright. I'll be alright. You don't have to do that. I can… I can manage," Harry slowly got out.

He finally looked up at her, making eye contact for the first time in weeks.

"It's not going to be easy… the things we've been through… you know… with the Malfoys," Harry started.

Diana nodded along as she listened.

"But you're right. We're not sixteen anymore," Harry continued.

"We're not," she added. "And he's not his father, Harry. I know that you had a tough time together in school with him, we all did, but… but it's not like that."

"I-... it's just hard to let go of-," Harry started.

"What?"

"No, I just-. Nothing. Nevermind."

"What?"

"Diana… I never expected to… that he would… that the two of you… I just never imagined this or that I'd feel-," Harry stammered out to Diana's frustration.

"Harry, we're not in school anymore. I understand that he was the last person you ever pictured me being with but is it fair to expect him to be the same person for the rest of his life? Harry-," Diana interrupted.

"No, no it's not that. It's…" Harry trailed off. Diana stood there in silence, letting him get out what he had to say. She wasn't sure what to expect anymore.

"I just never expected to feel… this way… about you," Harry admitted.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"It just won't be easy... Seeing you… with him," Harry replied.

Diana nodded, shutting the door entirely behind her. She didn't want Hermione to hear any of this. There had been two secrets she had kept from her best friend: her secret friendship with Draco, and her secret two-night stand with Harry.

"I see. You have… feelings for me. Is that what you're trying to say?" Diana asked, slowly getting the words out.

She was caught off guard, surprised at her friend's admission. She hadn't expected him to have feelings for her, let alone say anything about it.

"I'm sorry," Harry said.

"No! No, you don't have to be. You don't… but I don't know what… say," Diana said back, choosing her words carefully.

"Nothing. You say nothing. We don't… I want to work things out… with Ginny," Harry announced, quickly.

"'Course, I know. I mean… of course. But… Harry?" Diana asked, afraid to know the answer to what she had to say next.

"Yes?"

"Are we gonna be… you know… okay?"

Harry nodded slowly, "I think so yeah. It's just gonna take time. After everything we've… you know."

"Yeah."

"I want it to be. Okay. You and I. I want it to all workout. You and me at work. Me and Ginny. I'm not thrilled about Draco being your-, but yeah. I think we're gonna be okay," Harry said, with a half smile.

"'S that all?" Diana asked, nodding in agreement. She let out a sigh of relief. She knew it wasn't all fixed… but it was at least a start.

"Yes. I ehm, I'll see you next week. At work," Harry responded.

"Alright. I'll see you next week."